txolops Chapter 2406 Bad News
Chapter 2406 Bad News
Chapter 2406 Bad News
"When they first entered the Star Gate, they discovered a broken stele inscribed with the words 'Xuanwu Sacred Palace,' floating in the fierce winds. Unfortunately, the stele was taken away by Crimson Meteor Mountain and Moonlit Tundra; they only had a fleeting glance at it..."
Qin Sang handed the letter left by Meishan Yuanjun to Mo Yan and understood why Mo Yan was so excited when he heard about the Xuanwu Holy Palace.
In ancient times, the Demon Court was composed of many demon races.
Even the Great Zhou Dynasty, composed only of humans, was plagued by internal strife; how much more so would so many demon races with vastly different bloodlines, some of whom were even natural enemies?
These demon races cannot merge with each other. The Demon Court implements a system of enfeoffment, where powerful demon races are enfeoffed by the Demon Emperor, with stars in the heavens and regions on earth.
For example, the twenty-eight constellations actually refer to twenty-eight powerful demon clans. Above the twenty-eight constellations are the four sacred clans, guarding the four directions, which are the four sacred beasts as they are known today: the White Tiger, the Vermilion Bird, the Azure Dragon, and the Black Tortoise!
The Xuanwu Sacred Palace was the sacred palace of the Xuanwu clan in ancient times, and it was as famous as the White Tiger Sacred Palace, the Vermilion Bird Sacred Palace, and the Azure Dragon Sacred Palace.
Now that the Demon Court has fallen into ruin, there is no longer any mention of the Four Great Holy Clans, and the whereabouts of the Four Great Holy Palaces are unknown. I never imagined that the Xuanwu Holy Palace would be here!
Thinking of this, Qin Sang felt a surge of excitement in her heart, realizing that it was no wonder the treasures in Dou Su were so alluring to the Destiny Star.
If this is truly the Xuanwu Sacred Palace, it is probably a sacred place that even Mahayana Buddhist temples cannot compare to!
Would the Four Great Holy Clans lack Mahayana practitioners?
However, this is still just speculation. They haven't seen the broken stele with their own eyes, so they can't confirm whether it originally belonged to this place or was brought in from outside by someone.
It is certain that even if this place is not the Xuanwu Sacred Palace, it is related to the Xuanwu Sacred Palace!
Knowing the inside story, Mo Yan quickly regained his composure and fell into deep thought.
"They've gone in," Qin Sang said, gazing into the depths of Wei Su. The Tianmu Butterfly could no longer see the Caiyun Golden Pagoda and could only determine their whereabouts through his connection with Meishan Yuanjun.
“Follow them and see what they’re up to,” Mo Yan suggested, offering to continue tracking the Plague God.
Qin Sang glanced at Mo Yan, sensing that he seemed to know something. After learning that this was the Xuanwu Holy Palace, he became even more enthusiastic than she was.
They quickened their pace, following behind the Rainbow Pagoda. As they ventured deeper, the scenery began to change. The cracked earth gradually turned into sand, eventually becoming endless yellow sand, appearing increasingly desolate.
The strong winds are blocked out; there are no outside winds here, so the yellow sand won't be blown up. In this calm sea of sand, you can occasionally see a dead forest or an abandoned pavilion or palace. These buildings are grand and simple in style, all made of the same black stone, but unfortunately, they are all severely damaged.
At first, the plague demons would stop, but after several fruitless attempts, they gave up and stopped bothering with it.
"and many more!"
Mo Yan suddenly called out to Qin Sang and landed on the ground.
A black stone palace was surrounded by sand dunes. A corner of the palace was missing, but there were no broken stones around it, as if it had been directly erased by some force.
Don't be fooled by how ordinary the stone hall looks now. In ancient times, it must have been protected by a powerful array. It's hard to imagine what kind of earth-shattering battle took place here!
Qin Sang remained silent and followed Mo Yan into the stone hall. She found the hall empty except for a bright moon painted on the wall facing the door.
Legend has it that the Twenty-Eight Mansions are arranged in a circle around the Sun, Moon, and five planets, much like the places where the Sun, Moon, and five planets reside. Each mansion has its own corresponding constellation. Among them, the Wei Mansion belongs to the Moon, and its star official is named Wei Yue Yan.
Unfortunately, the moon has lost its light, and whatever its previous function was, it now has no power whatsoever.
Mo Yan stared at the bright moon, walked forward, reached out and stroked it. After a moment of thought, he turned to Qin Sang and said, "Let's go."
Qin Sang was completely confused, but she wasn't in a hurry to ask any questions and continued to follow the Rainbow Pagoda.
After flying forward for a while, the Plague God ordered a halt, and the Rainbow Cloud Golden Pagoda remained suspended in mid-air. Qin Sang and Mo Yan also stopped some distance away, their gazes sweeping across the area before landing below the Rainbow Cloud Golden Pagoda.
There was an endless sea of sand, and beneath the yellow sand lay a cluster of palaces!
The Plague God and the Gu Granny left the palace, leaving the First Madam to control the Golden Pagoda.
The three elders had all awakened and stood beside the Plague God, gazing at the sea of sand. The elder in the brocade robe spoke up, "I observe that the area below has long been decaying. Although it is not as dilapidated as Niu Su, there are no unusual fluctuations. I wonder if you two have discovered anything?"
The Plague Lord said, "That's because you don't know the method, fellow Daoist. I hope Moonlit Tundra hasn't lied to me..."
As they were talking, the Plague God suddenly waved his sleeve, and a sandstorm arose, turning the sky yellow.
At the same time, all the demons looked at the right hand of the Plague God. When he walked out of the golden pagoda, he was holding something in his hand, which was a compass the size of a palm.
The compass was entirely golden, and the needle was shaking violently. With a 'snap,' the golden needle broke and turned into a golden light that disappeared into the sandstorm.
This item was given to him by the Moonlit Tundra as payment for his cooperation.
The Plague God tossed aside the compass and watched the golden light disappear into the ground. The next moment, all the demons sensed something and a mysterious fluctuation suddenly emanated from the depths of the yellow sand and between the palaces.
The demons looked at each other in surprise, and then a strong wind blew up the yellow sand, revealing a tall tower deep underground.
This tower has twenty-eight stories, a slender body, and no doors or windows, making it appear as a solid stone tower. Silent here, buried by yellow sand for countless years, the stone tower's surface is mottled, exuding an aura of vicissitude.
Now that it has been restored to the light of day, the tower seems to be coming back to life.
The demons' gazes swept across the stone tower, all drawn to its summit, where a crescent moon was carved, shimmering faintly and gradually becoming transparent.
"What is this?" the Black Demon King couldn't help but ask.
The Plague God truthfully replied, "I do not know either. The Moonlit Tundra gave me the compass, saying that if I find this pagoda, I can gain benefits from it!"
The crescent moon atop the pagoda had become crystal clear, just like the moon in the sky. But before the Plague God could finish speaking, a cracking sound was heard, and the crescent moon was suddenly covered with cracks.
"Oh no, it's going to self-destruct!"
A demon cultivator exclaimed in surprise.
“No,” the old man in the brocade robe shook his head. “It should be because it has been dormant for too long. This crescent moon is already at its last gasp. There is still some power left in the crescent moon, but now it has been stirred up by the Plague God and can no longer hold on. It is about to shatter.”
The demons were curious about the power within the crescent moon. Only Qin Sang, watching from afar, seemed to discern something and was slightly moved.
'boom! '
The crescent moon is shattered into four pieces.
Fragments flew everywhere, bursting forth with dazzling moonlight that spread in all directions.
The demons initially tried to dodge, but upon contact with the moonlight, they all stopped, their faces showing surprise. Those who reacted quickly immediately sat cross-legged, drawing the moonlight into their bodies, and various phantoms appeared behind them, including jackals, wolves, tigers, and leopards.
These are all the manifestations of the demons, which were automatically drawn out by the moonlight. Moreover, all the demons had a feeling that the moonlight was nourishing their manifestations, and that with just a little guidance, they could temper their physical bodies.
In an instant, powerful auras erupted one after another, and all the demons were bathed in moonlight. Even the Black Silence Demon King and the three elders disregarded everything else and focused on drawing in the moonlight.
In the distance, Qin Sang and Mo Yan observed the scene and understood the effect of the moonlight. Mo Yan, being in a special situation, didn't think much of it, but Qin Sang watched with envy, wishing she could rush over immediately.
He sensed an aura similar to that of the Star Spirit from the moonlight. The moonlight could also help with cultivation, and it was gentler. Demon cultivators who focused on their power could also use it to cultivate. Without a doubt, the moonlight was more effective for cultivators who practiced ancient demon techniques!
Unfortunately, he and Mo Yan were outnumbered and outmatched by a large number of powerful opponents, including the Black Silence Demon King, whom he feared most.
Qin Sang watched helplessly as the moonlight was absorbed by the demons, and could only console herself that as long as she helped Mo Yan succeed, the Star Spirit would be no less powerful than the Moonlight.
"Fellow Daoist, have you noticed anything?" Qin Sang asked Mo Yan.
Mo Yan stared at the stone tower after the moon shattered and shook his head slightly.
“I have made some discoveries,” Qin Sang transmitted his voice. “The moment the Plague Lord awakened the Moon Tower, I vaguely sensed that something was hidden beneath the tower, but they might not be able to detect it.”
It was a fleeting, instantaneous sensation, and it relied on one's destiny star; only Qin Sang could do that. But since the Plague Lord and his group had benefited, they would surely search more thoroughly, hoping the secret beneath the tower wouldn't be discovered.
While the demons were distracted by the moonlight, Qin Sang secretly contacted Meishan Yuanjun, saying, "Fellow Daoist, you no longer need to follow the Black Silence Demon King. This may be a struggle between demon saints. Find an opportunity to escape as soon as possible."
Qin Sang cannot take Meishan Yuanjun away directly at this time, so she can only remind her not to be bewitched by the Black Silence Demon King.
Upon hearing this, Meishan Yuanjun's heart skipped a beat. The Black Silence Demon King had indeed given her many tempting promises, and she was somewhat tempted. However, upon learning that it involved the struggle between demon saints, she quickly suppressed her greed and silently agreed in her heart. She had several protective treasures given to her by Qin Sang, and it shouldn't be difficult for her to escape in the chaos.
The moonlight was quickly absorbed, but the demons remained in their previous positions, refining the moonlight. After a while, the demons awoke one after another, all showing joy, clearly having gained considerable benefits.
"I never expected to gain an advantage from the Plague King first. I am ashamed! I am ashamed!" The Black Silence Demon King repeatedly cupped his hands in apology.
The Plague God's expression softened slightly, and he said calmly, "Since you all followed me here, you are all entitled to a share of this opportunity."
"The Plague God is truly righteous!"
The old man in the brocade robe was full of admiration and was willing to serve as his subordinate. "There must be more than one treasure here. We are willing to cooperate with the Plague God to search this place carefully. Please give us your instructions, Plague God."
"The compass is destroyed, and I know nothing about this place, so there's nothing more to say. Fellow Daoists, please be careful and travel in groups..."
The Plague God casually waved his hand, and the demons split into several groups, casting spells to blow away the yellow sand, exposing the entire palace complex, and began a thorough search.
The moon tower was located at the very center of the palace. They split up and searched for a long time, thoroughly examining all the palaces, practically digging three feet into the ground. Finally, they gathered in front of the moon tower, but all returned empty-handed.
"It seems that if we want to know more secrets, we can only ask Crimson Meteor Mountain and Moonlit Tundra!" Plague Lord frowned.
The Black Silence Demon King immediately stepped forward and said, "I suggested long ago that the Plague Lord accompany me to Dou Su. Dou Su is the first of the seven northern constellations, the core of this secret realm, which must contain countless great opportunities. If you and I join forces, what great things can we not accomplish?"
At the same time, he transmitted his voice, "After this is over, I will recommend the Plague God for credit!"
The Plague God glanced at him, his heart filled with doubt.
But they really had nowhere better to go, they couldn't get out, and without their compass, they didn't know where to find a second moon tower.
"Very well, let's go and watch the battle from your vantage point!"
At the command of the Plague God, the colorful cloud pagoda turned and flew away from the perilous place.
After they left, Qin Sang and Mo Yan quietly appeared. Instead of continuing to follow them, they stayed behind.
……
"It's been so many days, why is it growing so slowly!"
Zhuque rested her chin on the edge of the pot, day and night, staring at the spiritual plant in the pot, cheering it on.
But with its patience, how could it wait for the spiritual plant to grow slowly? After only a few days, seeing that the spiritual plant showed no signs of growing at all, it became full of resentment and kept grumbling.
Just then, there was a knock on the door. Zhuque said irritably, "Who is it!"
“My Lord Divine Bird, a distinguished guest has arrived, Fellow Daoist Chi Lian from the Five Immortals Abode,” Wu Tu Xian replied from outside.
"How dare you disturb this divine bird! Tell her to get back here!"
Zhuque flew into a rage.
Wu Tuxian couldn't help but smile wryly, and could only gently persuade him, "This cave was given to our master by Fellow Daoist Chi Lian. To kick him out like this would be an insult to our master's reputation..."
Only after much coaxing and gentle persuasion did the impatient Vermilion Bird finally activate the cave's grand formation, welcoming Chi Lian inside.
The Vermilion Bird perched on his head, using his hair as a nest. Wu Tuxian dared not utter a single complaint, and after disguising himself, he went to see Chi Lian.
"Greetings, fellow Daoists."
Chi Lian's expression was somewhat unnatural.
However, the truth could not be hidden in the end. After exchanging greetings, they revealed the truth, "...So, Fellow Daoist Qingfeng has unfortunately perished. I am ashamed. At that time, I was barely able to protect myself and was powerless to help. I could only watch helplessly... Alas! Please accept my condolences, fellow Daoists."
Upon hearing this devastating news, both Zhuque and Wutuxian were stunned.
"what?"
Suzaku let out a shriek, "You mean that guy is dead?"
“It’s absolutely true. I saw it with my own eyes. At that time, Fellow Daoist Qingfeng had almost no chance of survival,” Chi Lian waved her hand and said. “Fellow Daoists, please don’t misunderstand. I’m not here to drive you away. Fellow Daoist Qingfeng’s friends are my friends. Since this cave has been given to Fellow Daoist Qingfeng, you two can stay as long as you like.”
Now that Qin Sang was dead, Chi Lian had a plan to recruit Wu Tu Xian and Zhu Que into her ranks.
Chi Lian sized up Wu Tu Xian and Zhu Que, wondering about their origins. They must be Qing Feng's followers, and to be chosen by Qing Feng, they must possess some skill.
Wu Tuxian was filled with surprise and doubt. He had voluntarily become a servant, thinking he would never have a chance to rise in rank, but unexpectedly his master had suddenly perished.
He tried to touch the deepest imprint in his mind, but there was no response.
"impossible!"
Suzaku's screams shook the entire island.
It also bears Qin Sang's mark, but it is not responding at this moment. However, this may not mean that Qin Sang has perished; it could also be due to the great distance.
"Where did that guy die? Take me there, I want to see him alive... or dead!" Zhuque roared.