Chapter 2417: Home

"Do you all still have no ideas yet?"

In the sea of clouds, the transparent tortoise shell hovered before Pestilence Monarch.

Pestilence Monarch swept his gaze over the demons and asked.

On the surface of the transparent tortoise shell, spiritual light flickered. Patriarch Qiuzang, Lord Chayun, and the three Immortals of the Five Immortals Temple were taking turns trying to activate the treasure and uncover its secrets, as well as those of the sea of clouds.

Pestilence Monarch had nearly died at Qin Sang's hands, and even now, recalling it filled him with horror and lingering fear.

This battle had a profound impact on him. He no longer harbored thoughts of monopolizing the fortuitous encounter and now only wished to escape intact. After being rescued by the two elders and the three immortals, he revealed the transparent tortoise shell to everyone. Of course, he could no longer conceal it anyway.

The three immortals had clearly not saved Pestilence Monarch out of goodwill, especially since they had fought him in the abyss not long ago. While they might not have known about the transparent tortoise shell specifically, they could infer that Pestilence Monarch possessed such a treasure. This was the Fox Immortal's true reason for choosing to save him; otherwise, the treasure would have fallen into Qin Sang's hands.

There was no deep-seated animosity between the parties, and with Pestilence Monarch voluntarily offering the treasure, they quickly formed an alliance, preparing to jointly confront Qin Sang and Mo Yan.

Qin Sang and Mo Yan's origins were unknown, and their ability to open the Ink Bridge leading to Gui Xu indicated an extensive knowledge of this secret realm, perhaps even surpassing Pestilence Monarch's.

Unexpectedly, after searching extensively, they found no trace of Qin Sang or Mo Yan. Left with no choice, they had to return to the sea of clouds.

The demons became co-masters of the transparent tortoise shell, taking turns to activate it, but all their efforts yielded minimal results.

"Where exactly did you obtain this tortoise shell, fellow Daoist?" asked the Yellow Immortal, feeling somewhat frustrated after repeated failures.

Pestilence Monarch replied helplessly, "Everything I said before is true. We indeed found it at the bottom of Reflecting Moon Lake, and then discovered the entrance to this secret realm! It must be due to the seal loosening over a long period, and also sheer luck that my sister and I happened to be nearby and stumbled upon it. Otherwise, Reflecting Moon Lake is so famous, with an endless stream of Daoists coming to admire the moon, that it would never have been our turn."

"Heh heh, indeed, a great stroke of luck..."

Patriarch Qiuzang turned around. "However, in my opinion, the true secret of this realm isn't in the sea of clouds, but within Gui Xu itself!"

The Fox Immortal calmly stated, "Your thoughts align with mine, fellow Daoist. However, if we can't even get through this sea of clouds, how can we speak of Gui Xu? Furthermore, this tortoise shell shows no reaction above Gui Xu."

The demons fell silent. Everyone understood this principle, but was Gui Xu truly that easy to breach?

Such a natural secret realm was inherently very dangerous, and they had no idea what lay hidden within. The sea of clouds, at least, offered some hope with the transparent tortoise shell as a guide. As long as they could break through the sea of clouds, they would have a way out and could then safely explore Gui Xu.

"I have a feeling that what we've perceived from the tortoise shell is merely the tip of the iceberg. Could it be that we haven't gained the tortoise shell's recognition, and only those with spiritual tortoise bloodline can activate it?" speculated the Willow Immortal.

"We've tried that," said Granny Gu, shaking her head. "We secretly collected no less than a hundred types of spiritual tortoise bloodlines."

"What about the Black Tortoise bloodline? Have you tried that too?" asked Lord Chayun.

Everything they had seen recently—the Black Tortoise Seven Mansions, the Black Tortoise Holy Palace, and even Gui Xu—was connected to the Black Tortoise Holy Clan.

Granny Gu and Pestilence Monarch were speechless. "Are there still descendants of the Black Tortoise in this world?"

"One of the mighty Four Holy Clans, would their bloodline simply die out? If we diligently searched, I believe we could find clues. However," Lord Chayun sighed, shaking his head, "I'm afraid we don't have that much time left."

Before he finished speaking, the expressions of the demons changed.

"Not the sea of clouds, outside!"

Patriarch Qiuzang and the Fox Immortal were the first to react, transforming into streaks of light and almost simultaneously rushing out of the sea of clouds.

Soon after, the demons returned to the vicinity of the wellhead, discovering that the fluctuations they had just sensed originated from there!

"Did those two guys go back again? Are they trying to seal off the wellhead?" The Yellow Immortal was both startled and enraged, suspecting Qin Sang and Mo Yan were responsible.

Since they could open this well, they could also seal it again. If this path were blocked and they couldn't break through the sea of clouds, they would be trapped and perish here.

"The Ink Bridge is a long path; they couldn't have returned that quickly!" the Fox Immortal stated decisively. "Let's go down and see!"

The demons re-entered the well and returned to the Ink Bridge's entrance.

Standing at the entrance, they could see black tides surging on the bridge. The source of the anomaly seemed to be from the other side of the Ink Bridge. Such a powerful phenomenon was likely beyond the capabilities of a Void Refinement cultivator.

"Could it be that the Dipper Mansion has already been opened?" Patriarch Qiuzang speculated.

They felt uneasy, but were unwilling to retreat now.

After a brief discussion, the demons all agreed to stay. Disregarding the issue for now, they exited the well, preparing to continue devising a way to break through the sea of clouds.

"In my opinion, we should first test it with brute force!"

The demons flew above Gui Xu, each offering their insights, brainstorming ideas.

But before they could return to the sea of clouds, waves of clouds suddenly surged from its depths, then a visible white giant wave rose, like a mountain of clouds, or a massive blade piercing directly into the sea of clouds.

*Boom!*

The cloud wave suddenly receded, crashing violently back into the sea of clouds.

At that moment, the entire sea of clouds shook violently, yet the surface of Gui Xu remained calm.

"What's happening?" the Yellow Immortal exclaimed.

The demons were all bewildered and uncertain. Even uniting their strength, it was incredibly difficult for them to carve a path through the sea of clouds. To create such a commotion within it was unimaginable. What was happening inside the sea of clouds? Was it about to collapse on its own?

The demons stared blankly at the sea of clouds, unsure whether this was a blessing or a calamity. Various strange phenomena appeared within the clouds, growing more intense.

Suddenly, expressions of shock flickered in the eyes of both Patriarch Qiuzang and the Fox Immortal.

"Have you sensed it too, fellow Daoist?" Patriarch Qiuzang asked in a deep voice.

The Fox Immortal's expression was solemn as she nodded slightly. Immediately after, the others also sensed another aura faintly emanating from the sea of clouds, one that was completely out of place.

"Could it be!"

Pestilence Monarch's face was filled with shock.

If this aura came from other demon cultivators, had a fourth wave of forces emerged, and were they attacking the sea of clouds?

"Besides you, who else knows that the secret realm is at the bottom of Reflecting Moon Lake?" The three immortals and two elders simultaneously turned to look at Pestilence Monarch and Granny Gu.

"Only that fellow. He should have helpers, but..."

Pestilence Monarch was referring to Mo Yan. But if Mo Yan's helpers had the ability to break through the sea of clouds, they would have entered long ago.

"This aura, this aura... No good! Get out of here quickly!"

Patriarch Qiuzang seemed to have discovered something. He cried out, turned, and fled, his figure appearing somewhat frantic.

The massive blade in the sea of clouds continued to advance, its speed increasing rapidly. It seemed the sea of clouds was truly about to be cleaved apart.

The demons were utterly shaken and unleashed the fastest escape techniques of their lives.

The Sea of Clouds.

Great Sage Guizang was engulfed by the cloud mist. Everything around him was a vast expanse of white; he could see nothing but the swirling vapor.

He paused, scanned his surroundings, and chuckled. "Indeed, a clever design, but unfortunately, it can't stop me! I'd like to see what you, Chanxin, painstakingly hid by creating this sea of clouds in the first place."

In a flash, the cloud mist before Great Sage Guizang twisted, forming an invisible energy blade that slashed fiercely towards the sea of clouds.

*Boom!*

The last barrier was shattered by the invisible energy blade. Great Sage Guizang vanished instantly and reappeared at the edge of the sea of clouds.

"Gui Xu!"

The calm water surface ahead stood in stark contrast to the turbulent sea of clouds, and Great Sage Guizang's pupils suddenly constricted.

"Oh?"

Great Sage Guizang captured a wisp of aura from the air, sniffing it at his nose. He had actually sensed the presence of other demon cultivators here!

*Boom!*

An overwhelmingly powerful divine sense erupted, sweeping outwards and rapidly engulfing the surroundings.

"Found them!"

A slight smile played on Great Sage Guizang's lips. He took a single step, instantly appearing above the wellhead.

*Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!*

Just then, the demons arrived. They felt a divine sense sweep over them, sending chills down their spines.

The next moment, the demons all saw the unfamiliar figure above the wellhead. They were all greatly alarmed, and their escape lights abruptly halted.

The figure slowly turned to face them. The demons instantly recalled a long-forgotten memory: the feeling of being targeted by a natural predator when they were still very weak. They were merely fragile prey, unable to even conceive of resistance; their fear stemmed from instinct.

Pestilence Monarch's vision blurred, and he found the figure already standing before him, idly toying with the transparent tortoise shell.

In that instant, he couldn't even discern how the other party had arrived, nor did he have time to react before the transparent tortoise shell was already in their hands.

"So, it was taken by you," Great Sage Guizang said.

"I..."

Pestilence Monarch was speechless, his voice trembling slightly.

Great Sage Guizang's gaze swept over the demons. He said disdainfully, "Without the Black Tortoise bloodline, you delude yourselves into thinking you can seize this opportunity!"

The demons suddenly understood, finally realizing why none of them could activate the transparent tortoise shell; it indeed required the Black Tortoise bloodline. Unfortunately, there was no excitement in solving this mystery.

"Junior bows to the Great Sage," the Fox Immortal and Patriarch Qiuzang were the first to react, stepping forward and respectfully bowing. "We were unaware of the Great Sage's arrival and acted impudently, obstructing your path. Please punish us, Great Sage."

"Yes! Yes! We were rude, please punish us, Great Sage!"

The Yellow Immortal and other demons hastily followed suit, bowing.

Although they were numerous and each was a top expert at the late-stage Void Refinement realm, none dared to strike at a Demon Saint. They watched helplessly as the tortoise shell was taken, furious but unable to speak.

If it were a Demon Saint's avatar, they might have dared to try, but this one looked like the true body had descended! Furthermore, they weren't close comrades-in-arms; they belonged to at least three different factions. Even if one or two could escape a Demon Saint, who would willingly become a scapegoat?

"Did you enter from here?"

Great Sage Guizang turned his head to look at the wellhead, a hint of solemnity flashing in his eyes.

"Reporting to the Great Sage, we first accidentally fell into the Black Tortoise Seven Mansions, and then..."

The Fox Immortal began, recounting the entire sequence of events meticulously, daring not to utter a single unnecessary word, fearing that irritating Great Sage Guizang would bring about utter disaster.

The other demon cultivators were not to be outdone, each reporting what they knew to Great Sage Guizang.

"Oh? There are two more here?"

Great Sage Guizang was somewhat surprised, as he hadn't discovered them earlier. He then released his divine sense again, searching repeatedly, not even sparing the sea of clouds, but found nothing.

"Great Sage, could they be..." The Fox Immortal gestured towards the wellhead.

Then, that divine sense rudely surged into the well, causing even more violent tremors on the Ink Bridge.

Finally, his divine sense returned. Great Sage Guizang shook his head, looking at the calm water surface below. Now, there was only one place left to go.

"You just said there was a phoenix aura when you fought him?" Great Sage Guizang looked at Pestilence Monarch.

Pestilence Monarch's heart sank. He was filled with regret. Had they known Lotus Crossing Marsh was unstable, he and his sister should have left this troubled land long ago. But they had always harbored delusions and were ultimately harmed by their greed.

"Precisely. This junior suspects he might be a descendant of the Azure Luan," Pestilence Monarch replied respectfully.

Great Sage Guizang appeared thoughtful. With a flash, he stood at the entrance of the Ink Bridge, gazing intently at the other side.

Beyond the Ink Bridge lay the Black Tortoise Seven Mansions, and according to previous sensations, the Black Tortoise Seven Mansions were about to emerge, surely drawing a Demon Saint's arrival.

Upon seeing Gui Xu, he had a feeling that he was getting closer and closer to that supreme treasure!

Back then, Great Sage Chanxin likely found the whereabouts of the supreme treasure. Perhaps the time wasn't right, or perhaps being restrained by a devil, Great Sage Chanxin couldn't retrieve the treasure and ultimately perished.

Before his death, Great Sage Chanxin perhaps didn't want his efforts to be in vain, and fearing the devil would obtain it, he painstakingly set up a scheme. If a descendant of the Black Tortoise in later generations were to obtain his legacy and treasures, they would be able to enter Gui Xu and claim the first prize.

Unfortunately, Great Sage Chanxin never awaited the arrival of a Black Tortoise descendant, and the items he left behind were scattered...

Outside the Wellhead.

The demons could not see Great Sage Guizang, yet none dared to leave without permission.

Suddenly, a bloody light surged from the wellhead. The light was eerily abnormal, writhing along the well's rim as if covered in bloodworms. Then, the well's rim gradually began to shrink at a visible rate.

Before the wellhead was completely sealed, Great Sage Guizang emerged, flicking out a beam of bloody light. This beam split into several strands, shooting towards the demons.

"Great Sage!"

"Senior, please spare us!"

The demons were greatly alarmed, quickly summoning their protective spiritual treasures and divine abilities. If Great Sage Guizang intended to kill them, despite knowing they were no match, they would have no choice but to fight desperately.

Great Sage Guizang said playfully, "Didn't you just say you were willing to be at my command?"

He then turned his gaze to the Fox Immortal. "That wooden carving in your hand belongs to the Master of the Five Immortals Temple, doesn't it? I advise you to put it away."

The Master of the Five Immortals Temple had a profound background and extensive connections. In normal times, Great Sage Guizang might show him some respect. But at a moment like this, the only one he would truly be wary of was another Demon Saint. The Master of the Five Immortals Temple did not qualify.

He had no intention of letting these demon cultivators leave. However, keeping them might be useful, for instance, by having them scout ahead.

Great Sage Guizang's tone was very calm, yet it instantly shattered the Fox Immortal's courage to resist.

The demons ultimately abandoned their resistance. The wellhead was sealed, and the sea of clouds blocked their way. Even if they escaped, where would they go?

The bloody light wrapped around the demons, transforming into heavy shackles that bound them, rendering them powerless. Only a sliver of hope sustained them: that this Great Sage would spare their lives after using them.

A short while ago.

Qin Sang decided to enter Gui Xu first, unaware that this decision had temporarily spared him from disaster.

Following the clam pearl's sensation, Qin Sang flew for a while, arriving at a certain spot in Gui Xu. After pondering for a moment, his figure slowly descended.

As he entered the water, strangely, it wasn't cold. Instead, he felt enveloped by a warm sensation and experienced an even profounder sense of tranquility, as if he had returned to a warm, peaceful home.